Episode 36 — Alexandria: SOFI Bank Call Interfered with Beeping and Fake Texts (Summer 2024)

SLII: Surveillance, Life Invasion, Interference

Excerpt (bullets)

• Refreshed phone, eliminating 2-step authentication required by SOFI bank.
• Contacted bank to reinstate access—requested ID and photo.
• Told them domestic violence situation.
• While talking to first line manager, heard beeps; asked if she heard them—no, only I heard.
• At end of discussion, she asked to send text—told her already received three texts from company.
• She said they hadn't sent any.
• Later spoke to another manager who couldn't hear beeping sounds.
• At end of call, he asked to send text—told him received 8 during conversation.
• He said SOFI hadn't sent them.
• Also heard heavy breathing not from SOFI representative.
• Photo: SOFI App / Text Messages

Full Narrative

In summer 2024, I had refreshed my phone eliminating 2-step authentication which the bank required. I contacted SOFI bank to reinstate my access. They requested my ID and photo to do so. I told them it was a domestic violence situation. While talking to the first line manager I heard beeps. I asked her if she heard them. No. Only I heard them. At the end of our discussion, she asked if she could send me a text. I told her I already received three texts from the company. She said they did not send any. Later I spoke to another manager who also stated he could not hear the beeping sounds. Again, at the end of the call he asked to send me a text. I told him I received 8 during our conversation. He said SOFI had not sent them. I also heard heavy breathing that did not come from the SOFI representative I spoke with. The beeps, phantom texts, and breathing revealed a third party was monitoring—and manipulating—the call.

Category Codes

• DIG.CALL (Call monitoring with audible indicators)
• DIG.SPOOF (Fake text messages during call)
• SUR.AUD (Audio surveillance of phone conversations)